Maximum PC

Okay, prompting what Satchboy said in This thread, I'm going to go ahead and make a poll for this so it doesn't get asked about again.

Please do not make another topic on this (unless you are having problems, in which case post in the Free Clinic with details of the problem).

Please only vote for the main product you use, which should be AV.

Any questions, please ask before voting.


Edit:
2011-04-26 - Added link to FAQ, Removed sticky status. - CT

I'd say Avast works very well, detects most everything, and even though it does take a small chunk of memory, at least there aren't pop-up dialog boxes to check for updates, instead they do it silently and just have a small notification on the bottom of the screen. It's common sense for AVs to have auto-updates without needing to bug you. My recommended free security suite is:

Avast or AVG (whichever floats your boat)
Comodo Firewall
Spybot S&D
Adaware SE

You won't need to scan often with any of the anti-spyware/virus software because Comodo usually stops that from happening.

Noscript and Adblock also works wonders for preventing adware.

I use trendmicro 2008 on the main computers without the firewall installed because i use the free zonealarm, all other computers use the free pctools antivirus which i find doesnt take up much resources. I havent used pctools antivirus long enough to know how effective it is but the reviews ive read tell me its probably a pretty good antivirus. id be interested in what others think of the free pctools antivirus. And for spyware and such i use a-squared.

I would only add that any AV product is only as good as keeping it current with updates.

Also in addition to the product, commonsense.exe should always be employed in conjunction with your AV product.

Ron

After a long run of AVG Free (up thru 7.x), I'm now running Avast! 4 Pro on my home rigs.
Nothing wrong with AVG; only reason I switched was the package price for Avast! 4 WHS Edition w/ 10 client licenses. I couldn't pass up the price they offered (for a 3-year license) when Avast! WHS came out of beta.

From using both at different times, I am somewhat certain that AVG and Avast are actually the same product, as are A-Squared anti spyware and AVG Antispyware. The updates work identically, they load the same components under different names, have very similar install sizes and similar GUIs. I would love someone to check into this more deeply though.

my default instals on any windows is

AVG
Threatfire (f it doesnt conflict with the OS andAVG and cuase slowdown)
Windows Firewall
Windows Defender
IObit Smart Defrag
and
Glary's Utilities

AVG on every machine I maintain and anyone whose system I do work on (with their permission - many people are stunned to hear that practical and effective free antivirus products exist. They are very happy to be free of the yearly subscription fees associated with Norton...)

I had Norton long ago... hated it.
McAfee seemed ok for awhile, but the last time I renewed, I realized it too was too big and user needy.

Right now, I have ESET on the system I built last December. But, it appears that the freeware may be the way to go.

I have licenses ending soon; mayhaps I will go to the free choices.

Installed AVG & Spybot on my new machine, as well as NoScript for Firefox. Everything works top notch.

I had refused to use an anti-virus program for a very long time because they were so bloated and difficult. I think the last time I used an antivirus program on my own machine was back when McAfee was still making freeware command prompt stuff.

AVG, CCleaner, and superantispyware is what I recommend to people and what I run on my machine. Works for me. I don't run a software firewall as I have a router, but I've used ZA and Sygate on various other machines.

It seems rather silly to limit people to one security software. The first pimary defense if a firewall, and I use Comodo for that. The I attack myself with

http://www.pcflank.com/pcflankleaktest.htm

https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

to make sure I have no open ports.

Then I install AVG. Lastly I install S&D and Adware2008 as occasional spyware scans in addition to AVG.

I also install a couple of rootkit scanners. There are also some modifications I make to make it harder to break into and move around in my system.[/code]

Since QuakeCon I've been using Symantec Endpoint Protection 11.0

It's the latest in their business lineup, and a 5-license ticket to ride is about $229. I don't know if they cut deals for fewer licenses or what, but it's pretty tight. And the long-term trial is free if you know some of the right people.

Right now I'm running NOD32 3.0,as well as CounterSpy 2.5.
I'm not using a software firewall at the moment,but I'm running a Zyxel Zywall hardware firewall.
(This is on Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit.)

I've been using NOD32 for a while. I like that fact that it's "footprint" is small and it has a hueristics engine. Version 3 also added Spyware protection, which makes it a complete package.

I always use Comodo and AVG. Works great.
CCleaner is not really a virus/spyware removing tool, but I use it, and same with hijackthis if I ever think my/my friends' computers have problems.

-Budgetperson

I use avast and comodo firewall pro. I had AVG but the new 8.0 version is REALLY annoying, and I've found that AVG has missed 4 viruses that were on my computer while Avast caught them the same day I installed it.

I use Windows Live OneCare and it's the best AV program ever!!! Auto scans and backup, and the tune-up feature makes things even easier.

Spyware Doctor. I felt i got my moneys worth after reading some great reviews on it. Though Im thinking of moving to Avast!

I'm naked... I'm on a Mac, if it gets a virus. I will expose it and show it off. I will contact Microsoft and see if they want to use it in a feature commercial. I would then laugh...